The Ground Water. 
9 
mer we pulled it up by a force which gradually lost its power and 
permitted it to subside. 
§ 21. The general observations on the water level in this plot 
shows that it is subject to small oscillations due to meteorological 
conditions, and that there are also oscillations extending over several 
weeks, the cause of which we have not attempted to suggest, and in 
addition to these, the accidental ones caused by rainfall or irriga¬ 
tion. 
§ 22. The water table in the east end of the plot was seldom 
at a depth exceeding the height to which water would be raised by 
the force of capillarity, and in this section the accumulation of 
alkali was the greatest. This plot gave us throughout its whole ex¬ 
tent a good opportunit} 7 to study the changes in the character and 
quantities of salts in the ground water. 
TOTAL SOLIDS IN THE GROUND WATER. 
§ 23. Samples of the ground water were taken weekly for the 
determination of the total solids. There seemed to be no relation 
between the different wells in this respect, their content being de¬ 
termined by the conditions obtaining in their immediate vicinity. 
For instance, well A, situated in the worst portion of the plot, car¬ 
ried on May 24th 3.6114 parts per thousand; * this quantity fell, 
with slight fluctuations from week to week till the end of June, 
when it carried 2.8714 parts. Well B, which was 150 feet west of 
A, carried at the beginning of this period 2.7843 parts per thous¬ 
and, which rose to 3.2828 parts by June 21st, and fell to 2.9143 
parts by the 28th. Well C carried, May 21st, 2.5000 parts per 
thousand, on June 28th 2.3286 parts. The changes in the total 
solids present in well D were almost identical with those observed 
in the case of well C. The rainfall during this time amounted to 
2.08 inches. The height of the water table had varied during this 
period, but it was almost exactly the same at the end of it as at the 
beginning, the greatest variation being 0.1 of a foot higher. 
§ 24. The cause of this gradual fall of the total solids held in 
solution by the ground water was probably not due to the influx of 
ground water from the west carrying a less quantity of salts in solu¬ 
tion, for subsequent examination showed that the ground water from 
this direction, some of which, at least at times, found its way into 
this ground, was richer in this respect than the ground water usu¬ 
ally filling this soil. The above statement that some of this water 
from the west found its way into the plot merely means that in ex¬ 
treme cases the level of the water table in the plot was affected by 
* To convert parts per thousand into grains per U. S. gallon, multiply by 
58.334946, into grains per Imperial gallon by 70.0. 
